Jan Erik Hanssen

Large scale multi-element survey of atmospheric deposition using naturally growing moss as biomonitor

Abstract Data for 26 elements from a nationwide survey in Norway using the moss Hylocomium splendens as a biomonitor are used to illustrate the feasibility of this technique for multi-element studies of airborne trace elements from local point sources, transboundary air pollution, and natural cycling processes. Contributions from non-atmospheric sources such as windblown soil dust and leaching from vascular plants are identified and discussed. Long range atmospheric transport appears to strongly dominate the deposition of several pollutant trace elements in Norway.

Atmospheric deposition of trace elements in Norway: Temporal and spatial trends studied by moss analysis

The atmospheric deposition of sixteen trace elements, as inferred by their concentration in moss samples collected in 1985 from 500 sites in Norway, is compared with data from a similar survey in 1977. The deposition patterns of V, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb, and Pb are substantially influenced by long-range transport from other parts of Europe, but a general decline is evident from 1977 to 1985, most strongly for Pb. For Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu the deposition patterns are largely determined by contributions from point sources within Norway and on the Kola peninsula close to the Russian/ Norwegian border. The moss data for Br, I, and partly Se reflect airborne supply from the marine environment, whereas Al and Sc serve as indicators of contributions from soil dust. Contributions to the trace element concentrations in moss from sources other than atmospheric deposition are identified and discussed.

Long-range atmospheric transport of trace elements to southern norway

Abstract Results from two investigations of air quality performed in 1978–1979 and 1985–1986 at Birkenes, southern Norway are presentes. The elements Na, Al, Cl, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Ag, Cd, Sb, La and Pb were determined in daily filter samples and data for SO2 and aerosol sulfate were also collected. The levels in 1985–1986 were lower for most pollution-derived elements than in 1978–1979. This in particular concerned V, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Sb and Pb, while Br and Sb showed less reduced concentration levels. Sector analysis showed that the main contributing source areas for airborne trace elements in southernmost Norway are southeast to southwest of Birkenes. Comparison of the contributions from different source areas in the two sampling periods indicates that emissions in western Europe had decreased more between the two periods than in eastern Europe. Factor analysis was performed on the two datasets. A five-factor solution revealed the existence of a marine component, a soil component and a general pollution component in the aerosol.

Size-differentiated composition of the arctic aerosol at NY-Ålesund, Spitsbergen

Abstract The aerosol composition, as a function of particle size, has been studied at Ny-Alesund, Spitsbergen, during winter 1983. The concentrations of Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Br, Rb, Sr and Pb have been measured in samples from a 6-stage cascade impactor of Battelle design by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE). Two groups of concentration vs size distribution curves seem to emerge for the anthropogenic components. The first group appears to represent size distributions during ‘normal’ meteorological conditions, while the second one during episodes. Enrichment factors, calculated for all measured fractions of particles, gave information on possible anthropogenic contributions. Large differences in concentrations and enrichment factors of the anthropogenic elements in the fractions below 0.5 μm EAD (equivalent aerodynamic diameter) for the normal and episodic conditions could be used to assess the origins of the Arctic aerosol. The assessment was based on the spatial distributions of emissions, and the meteorological conditions, recorded during the measurement period. It was found that an episode probably occurred at Ny-Alesund in March 1983. The episode resulted in very high concentrations of some elements in a portion of the fine fraction of particles. It is hypothesised that the origin of pollutants was the emission sources along the Urals and on the Kola Peninsula in the Soviet Union.

Field intercomparison of measurement techniques for total NH4+ and total NO3− in ambient air

Abstract Water-soluble nitrogen compounds play an important role in the acidification and eutrophication of our environment. The most abundant species are NH3 and HNO3 which both are present in gaseous and particulate forms. They can both be transported over long distances, especially in particulate form. In order to study this transport a network of stations in different countries has to be used. A prerequisite is of course that all laboratories involved use comparable measurement techniques. Another prerequisite is that the methods are so simple and inexpensive to use that a dense network can be established even at remote places. Several field experiments have been performed in which techniques to measure the gaseous and particulate forms separately are compared. However, they have not been very successful. In this study three techniques to measure the total (gaseous and particulate) concentrations of NH4+ and NO3− were compared in field experiments. Comparison of measurements made by different laboratories in different countries using the same sampling technique at a given place yielded a relative standard deviation of 20% for total NH4+ and 15% for total NO3−. The same relative standard deviations were obtained when different sampling techniques (denuder, total filter, filter pack) were compared.

Ambient impact of residential wood combustion in Elverum, Norway☆

Abstract Residential wood combustion has been shown to be a very important source to air pollution including particles, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and mutagenic compounds. The resulting levels measured were considerably higher than what would have been expected in a small town like Elverum with few other pollution sources. Radiocarbon information in addition to chemical analysis and biological characterization has shown to be an extremely valuable technique for quantitative assessment of RWC pollution sources. On the average wood carbon contributed 65% to the carbon in ambient fine particles in Elverum.

Measurements of particulate matter within the framework of the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP): I. First results

Particulate matter (PM) monitoring presents a new challenge to the transboundary air pollution strategies in Europe. Evidence for the role of long-range transport of particulate matter and its significant association with a wide range of adverse health effects has urged for the inclusion of particulate matter within the European Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (EMEP) framework. Here we review available data on PM physico-chemical characteristics within the EMEP framework. In addition we identify future research needs for the characterisation of the background PM in Europe that include detailed harmonised measurements of mass, size and chemical composition (mass closure) of the ambient aerosol.

Inorganic and Carbonaceous Components in Indoor/Outdoor Particulate Matter in Two Residential Houses in Oslo, Norway

Abstract A detailed analysis of indoor/outdoor physicochemical aerosol properties has been performed. Aerosol measurements were taken at two dwellings, one in the city center and the other in the suburbs of the Oslo metropolitan area, during summer/fall and winter/spring periods of 2002–2003. In this paper, emphasis is placed on the chemical characteristics (water-soluble ions and carbonaceous components) of fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM2.5–10) particles and their indoor/outdoor relationship. Results demonstrate that the carbonaceous species were dominant in all fractions of the PM10 particles (cut off size: 0.09–11.31 μm) during all measurement periods, except winter 2003, when increased concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions were predominant because of sea salt transport. The concentration of organic carbon was higher in the fine and coarse PM10 fractions indoors, whereas elemental carbon was higher indoors only in the coarse fraction. In regards to the carbonaceous species, local traffic and secondary organic aerosol formation were, probably, the main sources outdoors, whereas indoors combustion activities such as preparation of food, burning of candles, and cigarette smoking were the main sources. In contrast, the concentrations of water-soluble inorganic ions were higher outdoors than indoors. The variability of water-soluble inorganic ion concentrations outdoors was related to changes in emissions from local anthropogenic sources, long-range transport of particles, sea salt emissions, and resuspension of roadside and soil dusts. In the indoor environment the infiltration of the outdoor air indoors was the major source of inorganic ions.

On the occurrence of photochemical oxidants at high latitudes

Abstract Results from an ozone monitoring programme during the summers of 1975 and 1976 in the lower Telemark area (ca. 59°N) in Norway shows that elevated ozone concentrations (up to 120 ppb) occurred, mainly during prevailing high pressure situations. Wind trajectory analyses indicate that the elevated ozone concentrations in part seem to be generated from locally emitted precursors, and in part are associated with long range transport in north-western Europe.

LONG-RANGE TRANSPORT OF TRACE ELEMENTS TO SOUTHERN NORWAY STUDIED BY INAA OF AIR FILTERS

The present work is a multi-element study of air concentrations at Birkenes, Southern Norway, based on daily filter samples during 1985. Sixteen elements are determined regularly by INAA; i.e. Na, Al, Cl, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Se, Br, Ag, Sb, La. In addition sulfate is determined by ion chromatography and Cu, Ni, Cd and Pb by electrothermal AAS. The main aim of the study is to see whether the air concentrations of long-range transported pollutants have changed significantly since 1979 when a similar study was last performed. Analysis of inter-element correlations in the two data series serves to define four main aerosol compounds: One “general pollution”, one marine, one soil, and one “fossil-fuel” component. Classification of air samples with respect to emission areas according to calculated air trajectories indicates from the limited number of 1985 samples analyzed so far that the contribution of air pollutants from Eastern Europe is at least as high as in 1979 while that from Western Europe has decreased. This decrease is evident for Pb in particular.